Barnabas and the Early Christiane 59In spite of the opposition which they faced, people continued
to visit these strange newcomers and their number increased. En
couraged by this interest, the disciples in Antioch sent word to Je
rusalem asking the apostles there to send a man to help spread the
truth and teaching of Jesus arnong the pagans who surrounded
them. The disciples selected Barnabas as the most suitable person
for this task, and thus Barnabas becarne the first rnissionary in
Christian history. Barnabas carne to Antioch and met with unex
pected success. Due to his efforts, 'much people was added unto
the Lord,' (Acts 11:24),for 'hewas agoodman, and full of the Holy
Ghost and faith.'
After a year had passed, Barnabas decided that the time had
corne to extend his activity beyond Antioch. He was sure that Paul
would make a goodhelper and with this in view he went to Tarsus
and brought Paul back with him. (Thus, again, Paul carne face to
face with sorne of the people who had suffered persecution at his
hands, and again he met with hostility and opposition.
Once more, the importance of and respect for Barnabas can be
assessed by the fact that he had his way, and Paul was received
into the cornmunity. Perhaps Barnabas was looking to the best in
his former class-mate and felt that if Paul' s zeal and enthusiasm,
which had made him such a thorough persecuter, could only be
re-channelled, he would make an outstanding and invaluable fol
lower of Jesus.
Not all the apostles sharedthis view, andPetercarne out in open
opposition to Paul. As well as the hostility kindled by Paul's past
actions, there was a difference of opinion over two other issues.
They could not agree to whom the teaching of Jesus should be taken
and what should be taught. Peter held that Jesus had corne to re
vivify the guidance given to the Jews and that, therefore, what he
had taught could only be preached arnong the Iews, On the other
hand, there was Paul who not only believed in spreading the truth
to everyone, Jew or otherwise, but also asserted that he had been
given additional instruction from Jesus after his disappearance. He
felt that any necessary adjustrnents should be made to adapt the
teaching according to the apparent demands of time and situation.
Barnabas held the rniddle position between the two. He held
that they should only teach what they had been taught by Jesus,
but felt that they should bring this guidance to anyone who would
benefit from it and was receptive to it, Jew or non-Iew,